AS vs. IP: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at AS and IP, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
AS’s market capitalization stands at 21.53 billion USD, while IP’s is 26.62 billion USD, indicating their market valuations are broadly comparable.
AS’s beta of 3.65 points to significantly higher volatility compared to IP (beta: 0.99), suggesting AS has greater potential for both gains and losses relative to market movements.
| Symbol | AS | IP |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Amer Sports, Inc. | International Paper Company |
| Country | FI | US |
| Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
| Industry | Leisure | Packaging & Containers |
| CEO | Jie Zheng | Andrew K. Silvernail |
| Price | 38.87 USD | 50.43 USD |
| Market Cap | 21.53 billion USD | 26.62 billion USD |
| Beta | 3.65 | 0.99 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | February 1, 2024 | January 2, 1970 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of AS and IP by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
AS
4.41%
Leisure Industry
- Max
- 54.14%
- Q3
- 27.35%
- Median
- 10.25%
- Q1
- -5.82%
- Min
- -50.57%
AS’s Return on Equity of 4.41% is on par with the norm for the Leisure industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
IP
3.65%
Packaging & Containers Industry
- Max
- 20.97%
- Q3
- 18.53%
- Median
- 9.15%
- Q1
- 3.67%
- Min
- -15.31%
IP’s Return on Equity of 3.65% is in the lower quartile for the Packaging & Containers industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.
Return on Invested Capital
AS
4.80%
Leisure Industry
- Max
- 18.80%
- Q3
- 12.83%
- Median
- 9.71%
- Q1
- -1.45%
- Min
- -18.12%
AS’s Return on Invested Capital of 4.80% is in line with the norm for the Leisure industry, reflecting a standard level of efficiency in generating profits from its capital base.
IP
-6.57%
Packaging & Containers Industry
- Max
- 11.55%
- Q3
- 9.42%
- Median
- 6.03%
- Q1
- 2.83%
- Min
- -6.57%
IP has a negative Return on Invested Capital of -6.57%. This indicates that its operations are failing to generate a profit on the total capital invested, signaling significant inefficiency or value destruction.
Net Profit Margin
AS
3.70%
Leisure Industry
- Max
- 14.84%
- Q3
- 9.75%
- Median
- 7.51%
- Q1
- -8.12%
- Min
- -34.68%
AS’s Net Profit Margin of 3.70% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Leisure industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
IP
1.99%
Packaging & Containers Industry
- Max
- 10.07%
- Q3
- 5.37%
- Median
- 3.61%
- Q1
- 1.49%
- Min
- -2.97%
IP’s Net Profit Margin of 1.99% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Packaging & Containers industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin
AS
10.56%
Leisure Industry
- Max
- 27.89%
- Q3
- 15.06%
- Median
- 11.34%
- Q1
- 2.75%
- Min
- -10.88%
AS’s Operating Profit Margin of 10.56% is around the midpoint for the Leisure industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
IP
2.09%
Packaging & Containers Industry
- Max
- 14.60%
- Q3
- 11.93%
- Median
- 8.05%
- Q1
- 5.47%
- Min
- 2.09%
IP’s Operating Profit Margin of 2.09% is in the lower quartile for the Packaging & Containers industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | AS | IP |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 4.41% | 3.65% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 2.37% | 0.96% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 4.80% | -6.57% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 3.70% | 1.99% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 10.56% | 2.09% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 56.25% | 28.59% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
AS
1.66
Leisure Industry
- Max
- 2.58
- Q3
- 2.10
- Median
- 1.69
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.31
AS’s Current Ratio of 1.66 aligns with the median group of the Leisure industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
IP
1.33
Packaging & Containers Industry
- Max
- 1.88
- Q3
- 1.79
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 1.16
- Min
- 0.80
IP’s Current Ratio of 1.33 aligns with the median group of the Packaging & Containers industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
AS
0.29
Leisure Industry
- Max
- 2.86
- Q3
- 1.42
- Median
- 0.89
- Q1
- 0.25
- Min
- 0.04
AS’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.29 is typical for the Leisure industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
IP
0.56
Packaging & Containers Industry
- Max
- 2.47
- Q3
- 2.22
- Median
- 1.22
- Q1
- 0.79
- Min
- 0.56
Falling into the lower quartile for the Packaging & Containers industry, IP’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.56 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
Interest Coverage Ratio
AS
3.15
Leisure Industry
- Max
- 10.99
- Q3
- 6.49
- Median
- 2.98
- Q1
- 0.15
- Min
- -5.46
AS’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 3.15 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Leisure industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
IP
1.04
Packaging & Containers Industry
- Max
- 6.21
- Q3
- 4.64
- Median
- 2.89
- Q1
- 1.61
- Min
- -0.51
In the lower quartile for the Packaging & Containers industry, IP’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 1.04 indicates a tighter cushion for servicing debt, suggesting less financial flexibility than many of its competitors.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | AS | IP |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 1.66 | 1.33 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.80 | 0.96 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.29 | 0.56 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 1.75 | 4.52 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 3.15 | 1.04 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for AS and IP. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
AS
0.00%
Leisure Industry
- Max
- 3.83%
- Q3
- 0.15%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AS currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
IP
3.67%
Packaging & Containers Industry
- Max
- 9.30%
- Q3
- 4.22%
- Median
- 2.67%
- Q1
- 1.42%
- Min
- 0.00%
IP’s Dividend Yield of 3.67% is consistent with its peers in the Packaging & Containers industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio
AS
0.00%
Leisure Industry
- Max
- 91.69%
- Q3
- 14.53%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AS has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
IP
182.87%
Packaging & Containers Industry
- Max
- 223.77%
- Q3
- 154.70%
- Median
- 54.74%
- Q1
- 23.39%
- Min
- 0.00%
IP’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 182.87% is above 100%. This means the company is paying out more in dividends than it earned, a practice that is often unsustainable and could indicate a risk to future dividend stability.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | AS | IP |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 3.67% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 182.87% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
AS
107.87
Leisure Industry
- Max
- 50.94
- Q3
- 41.43
- Median
- 24.00
- Q1
- 14.24
- Min
- 11.70
At 107.87, AS’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Leisure industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
IP
55.59
Packaging & Containers Industry
- Max
- 57.57
- Q3
- 40.45
- Median
- 25.12
- Q1
- 18.16
- Min
- 10.25
A P/E Ratio of 55.59 places IP in the upper quartile for the Packaging & Containers industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
AS
4.82
Leisure Industry
- Max
- 5.65
- Q3
- 3.47
- Median
- 1.94
- Q1
- 1.14
- Min
- 0.00
A Forward PEG Ratio of 4.82 places AS in the upper quartile for the Leisure industry. This suggests the stock is potentially expensive compared to its peers relative to its growth forecast, which may warrant caution.
IP
2.67
Packaging & Containers Industry
- Max
- 3.19
- Q3
- 2.69
- Median
- 2.20
- Q1
- 2.02
- Min
- 2.02
IP’s Forward PEG Ratio of 2.67 is within the middle range of its peers in the Packaging & Containers industry. This suggests a reasonable balance between the stock’s price and its expected growth, aligning with sector valuation norms.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
AS
3.95
Leisure Industry
- Max
- 4.00
- Q3
- 2.41
- Median
- 1.45
- Q1
- 1.18
- Min
- 0.36
AS’s P/S Ratio of 3.95 is in the upper echelon for the Leisure industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
IP
1.34
Packaging & Containers Industry
- Max
- 1.99
- Q3
- 1.28
- Median
- 0.99
- Q1
- 0.75
- Min
- 0.36
IP’s P/S Ratio of 1.34 is in the upper echelon for the Packaging & Containers industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio
AS
4.18
Leisure Industry
- Max
- 5.76
- Q3
- 4.55
- Median
- 3.57
- Q1
- 2.69
- Min
- 0.30
AS’s P/B Ratio of 4.18 is within the conventional range for the Leisure industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
IP
1.22
Packaging & Containers Industry
- Max
- 5.73
- Q3
- 3.44
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.76
- Min
- 0.55
IP’s P/B Ratio of 1.22 is in the lower quartile for the Packaging & Containers industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | AS | IP |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 107.87 | 55.59 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 4.82 | 2.67 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 3.95 | 1.34 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 4.18 | 1.22 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 89.77 | -5324.42 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 35.61 | 17.99 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 4.15 | 1.79 |